In the past, if a guitar player wanted true P-90 soapbar tone from a humbucker-equipped guitar, he or she would have to physically alter the guitar: Usually irreparably and often destroying the resale value of the instrument.

Those days are over with the release of the SPH-90 Phat Cat. Phat Cats are true P-90 soapbar pickups squeezed into a humbucker cover. They are direct retrofits for most humbucker-equipped guitars, without need for permanent modification to the instrument.

Phat Cats were created as a collaborative effort between Seymour and Hamer founder, Jol Dantzig. Originally built in Seymour's Custom Shop for Hamer Guitars where they were used exclusively on their Newport series of USA-made instruments, Phat Cats will now be built on our regular production line, which will increase production capacity and decrease the selling price. Says Dantzig, "We worked with Seymour Duncan to conceive Phat Cats, and now we're happy to see the opportunity for all of Duncan's customers to enjoy their great sound."

Phat Cats are the call for the player looking for a great combination of output and high-end response. The tone is big, fat, and punchy with enhanced upper-mids for extra "cut." Like traditional P-90s, Phat Cats embody a true single coil design with two sand cast Alnico magnets and single conductor, braided shield, hookup cable. The short, flat bobbins account for the fatter, midrange-intensive tone; and the nickel-silver cover will reduce higher frequency harmonics - 120, 180, 140, etc. and tames the raggedness sometimes associated with P-90s. The result is a pickup with a unique sonic signature. Phat Cats are available in neck and bridge calibrated positions, and with either nickel or gold plating on their nickel-silver cover. When used together in the neck-plus-bridge position, both pickups will be hum-canceling.

Phat Cats are vacuum wax potted for squeal-free performance. Mounting hardware (screws and springs) is included, as is a detailed wiring diagram. Phat Cats are hand built in our Santa Barbara, California workshop.